Circle Holding

Radical Empathy Through Sharing Stories with Narrative 4's Lee Keylock

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How the Story Exchange Method Brings Communities Together

In this episode, Julia talks to Lee Keylock of Narrative 4 and they covered:

  • Storytelling around controversial topics build community through revealing nuance
  • How exactly Narrative 4’s Story Exchange works through experiencing radical empathy in circle
  • That empathy starts with the courage and generosity to try to listen
  • Hearing your story told by someone else lets you see it in a new light
  • Facilitation is key to handle the emotional space and a co-facilitator helps keep the flow going
  • That there is nothing soft about the skill of facilitation and it improves through practice
  • Working with and learning from local leaders who already have people’s trust.

    • BIO:

    Lee Keylock is Director of Global Programs at Narrative 4 and oversees the coordination and administration of all aspects of N4’s ongoing programmatic development. Originally from Britain, Lee immigrated to the United States in 1989 and taught English at Newtown High School in Connecticut for thirteen years. He has served as an adjunct professor teaching Creative Writing and Composition at Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven, where he also earned his MFA in Creative Writing. He has played a major role in the global expansion of the organisation, overseeing some incredible projects; from bringing together Israelis and Palestinians to share stories, to using the Story Exchange to address issues around gun violence/ownership, to orchestrating immersive field exchanges between US high schools. He is currently running N4's civic engagement arm.

    Some links about our work for people:

    1) A quick video illustrating the power of the N4 story exchange (3 mins)

    2) New York Times article where we brought together two socio-economically diverse schools: "A Tale of Two Schools." (5 min read)
    3) The Field Exchange Program Video (4 mins)
    4) N4 and Civic Engagement (7 mins)
    5) NY Magazine covered our work with bringing together people on the diverse issue of guns in America. (10 min read). The accompanying award winning documentary (20 mins)
    6) CBS news reporting on our Police and Youth story exchange initiative (3 mins)
    7) Website: https://narrative4.com/

    You can pre-order our book Circle Holding: A Practical Guide to Facilitating Talking Circles on Amazon (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Circle-Holding-Practical-Facilitating-Talking/dp/1805013157/)

    For a signed copy from Independent Book Store West End Lane Books purchase the book here https://www.welbooks.co.uk/shop/p/circle-holding-by-julia-davis-and-tessa-venuti-sanderson

    To learn more about facilitating circles you can join one of our trainings:

    https://www.circleholding.org
    Circle Holding Fundamentals - introductory 3 hour workshop
    https://www.circleholding.org/circle-fundamentals
    Circle Holding Facilitator Training - 3 month training
    https://www.circleholding.org/circle-holders-journey
    Circle Holding Book Club - a fun way to work through the exercises
    https://www.circleholding.org/book-club
    Yoga Nidra & Circle Holding
    https://www.circleholding.org/yoga-nidra-circle-holding
    Circle Holding Self Study Programme
    https://www.circleholding.org/self-study
    Circle Holding Non-Residential Retreat - London
    https://www.circleholding.org/weekend-retreat
    Circle Holding Residential Retreat
    https://www.circleholding.org/autumn-residential
    Free Events and mini trainings - meet Julia & Tessa and get a taste of circle holding
    https://www.circleholding.org/free-resources
    We love to hear from circle facilitators and circle goers so please email us at [email protected]

    Music credit: Fabio Venuti

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    Circle HoldingBy Julia Davis and Tessa Venuti Sanderson